Combined regulator and self-closing valve



April 30, 1929- D. H. EBINGER COMBINED REGULATOR AND SELF CLOSING VALVE Filed Dec. 23, 1927 2 H M H...

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. EBINGER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE 11 A", httiIIt-i' T-PERSANITARY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A. CUMLKXHMKIIUN OF OHIO.

GOMBIN ED REGULATOR AN D SELF-CLOSING t ALVE.

Application filed December 23, 1927. derial No. 242,255.

This invention relates to devices for con trolling liquid flow and, with reference to the more specific features thereof, is directed more particularly to a combined regulator and self closing valve adapted for use in connection with drinking fountains, bubblers and the like.

In drinking fountains of the types employed in schools, office buildings, factories to and other public or semi-public places usually receive their water supply direct from city mains and it is a matter of common observation and knowledge that such devices are not uniform in their operation, that is, the in streams or jets of water discharged therefrom vary in volume or magnitude from time to time, This is due principally to variations in the pressure of the water supply and the present invention therefore has for one of its an objects the provision of an automatic I'egu later which is situated in the water flow line leading to the water dispensing jet or ejector in order that a uniform flow of'water from said ejector may be obtained automatically at all times through the provision of a new and improved form of regulating means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic regulator for the purpose specified which is arranged Within a casing also adapted for the reception of an automatic self 0 osing valve, the regulating and valve means constituting a' unitary structure which may be readily inserted into the liquid flow line leading to the discharge orifice or nozzle of a drinking fountain.

A further ob'ect of the invention resides in forming the combined regulator and valve mohanism so that the same willbe of simple,

1 substantial and positively operating form,

which is not apt to lose its working efficiency or to require frequent repair and adjustment.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the ap-- pended claims. In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional. view taken through the combined regulator and self closing valve comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken therethrough,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of a drinking fountain provided with a regulator and valve formed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the cylindrical body or casing of the device, which body in this instance is formed to include a transversely extending web 2 integrally formed with the body 1. The web is provided with oppositely arranged threaded sockets 3 and a in which are threadedly received the ends- 4 of communicating water conducting pipes 5 and 6.

The opposite longitudinal ends of the body 1 are formed to include threaded sockets 7 and 8 whiclrterminate inwardlyin annular shoulders 9 and 10. Seated upon the shoulders 9 and 10 are flexible diaphragms 11 and t 12 formed from rubber or a composition ma terial.

The diaphragm 11 is provided with a central opening through which extends the threaded shank of a valve stem 13. the latter terminating at one end in a substantially conical head 14. Carried by the stem 13" and arranged on the opposite sides or faces of the diaphragm 11 are metallic washer plates 15 and 16, the former of which being maintained normally in engagement with one end of a .valve cage 17, said cage contiguous to the plate 15, being, provided with a restricted port or orifice 18, the effective area of which being governable by the operating position of the head 14. The cage 17 is threaded into a socket 19 formed horizontally in the web 2, and the inner end of the cage engages with a disk 20 which is held by the cage in engagcment'with a wall 21 formed vertically in the central portion of the web 2. v

The disk 20 is provided with an axial opening or orifice 22, which is normally closed by the head 23 of a threaded valve stem 24, the latter being situated in longitudinal and axial alignment with the head and stem 14 and 13. The stems 24 also project axially through an opening formed centrally in the wall 21, and has its outer threaded end received within a socket formed in a stud 25 which is carried axially by the diaphragm 12. The stud has 7 its shank provided with spaced washers 26,

p which engage with the opposite faces of the diaphragm 12 and are maintained in frictional clamped relationship therewith by means of a nut 27 which is threaded upon one end of the stud 25. Bytightening the nut 27 the head of the stud and the washers 26' are drawn into secure frictional clamping relationship with the axial portion of the diaphragm-12. The stub 25 serves therefore as tudinally extending sleeve 29. Slidably mounted within this sleeve is a cup shaped member 30 which is formed internally to provide a seat for a diaphragm actuating spring 31, this spring being interposed between the outermost of the washers 26' and the internal seat of the cup member 30. The cup member is further formed to provide a spherical enlargement 32 on its outer wall, which enlargement is engaged by means of a concave face 32' provided upon the inner end of an operating handle 33, which extends longitudinally and axiall from one end of the body or casing 1. T 1e inner end of the handle terminates in a metallic thrust member 34 which is provided with the inner concave base 32 arranged in engagement with the convex enlargement 32 of the cup member 30. The

outer edge of the thrust member 34 is normal- I 1y seated upon an inwardly extendin annular head 35 formed upon the outer en of the sleeve 29, the spring 31 serving to maintain the cup 30 in engagement with the thrust member 34 and the outer edge of the latter, in turn, in engagement with the head 35. It will be seen that by oscillatin the handle 33 in any direction inward sli ing movement will be imparted to the cup member 30 and thence to the diaphragm 12 through the interposition of the spring 31. Since the valve 23 and 24 is directlyconnected with the diaphragm 12 it follows that when the latter is flexed from its normal position theorifice 22 will be opened to permit of water circulation.

The end ofthe body 1 opposite to the sleeve 29 is provided with a removable cup 36, which is threaded into the socket 7. This cup serves as a seat for one end of a coil spring 37, the opposite end of the latter being engaged with the washer plate 16, and the normal tendency of the spring 37 is to maintain the valve head 14 based on the orifice provided in the cage 17.

In operation, water under city main pressure flows through the pipe 5 and through the ports 38 provided laterally in the web 2 into engagement with the diaphragm 1, causing the latter to flex, against the resistance offered by the spring 37, so as to regulate the operative relationship between the head 14 and the port 18 in accordance with any given water pressure. If the pressure exceeds a given amount, the port 18 is proportionately restricted to limit waterfiow. If, on the other hand, the water pressure drops below normal the effective area of the port 18 is proportionately enlarged to admit of greater water flow. Then, by actuating the handle 33 of the valve mechanism, the opening 22 may be uncovered by the advance of the head 23, permitting of of water flow from the regulator side of the body to the outlet or valve side, After pass- .ing through the port 22 the water circulates or is forced through a port 39 provided in the upper part of the web 2 and issues from the body 1 by way of the pipe 6. As shown in Figure 4 this pipe extends to a bubbler or other form of water outlet 40 which may be arranged over a waste water receptor or basin 41. It will be understood that the outlet 40 and the receptor 41 may be of any suitable form and that if desired the water may be cooled by any suitable'means prior to its discharge from the outlet 40.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid controller com rising a casing formed to include spaced ongitudinally aligned regulating and valve chambers, said chambers being separated by a dividing wall structure, a diaghragm situated within each of said chambers, said dividing wall being formed to include a pair of openings permitting of liquid flow between said chambers, a regulatory valve operated by water pressure on the diaphragm in the regulating chamber to control the effective area of one of said openings, and a self closing but manually opened valve connected with the diaphragm in said valve chamber for controlling liquid flow throu h the other of said openings, and water inlet and outlet in constant communication respectively with said regulating and valve chambers.

2. A 1i uid controller comprising a casing forme to include spaced regulating and valve chambers, there being a divisional wall structure formed within said casing to separate the latter into spaced regulating and valve chambers, said wall structure being 0nd opening in said channel to permit of liquid flow through the latter, and a liquid inlet and outlet in communication respectively with said regulating and valve chambers. r

3. A liquid controller comprising a casing formed to include spaced regulating and valve chambers separated by a divisional wall structure, said wall structure being formed to include a pair of openings permitting of liquid flow between said chambers, and automatically operating means situated with in said regulating chamber and cooperative with one of said openings to vary the effective area thereof in inverse ratio to the liquid pressures developed within said regulating chamber, manually open and automatically closing valve means situated within said valve chamber and cooperative with the second of said openings for controlling liquid flow between said chambers, and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in constant communication respectively with said regulating and valve chamhers.

4. In a liquid controller, a casing formed to include spaced regulating and valve chambers, said chambers bein separated bya divisional wall structure formed to include a pair of spaced openings for regulating liq.- uid flow from said regulating to the valve chamber, automatically operated regulating means responsive to liquid pressures developed withinsaid regulating chamber to vary the effective area of one of said openings to an extent proportionate with the applied liquid pressure, spring closed and manually opened valve means situated within said valve chamber and cooperative with the other bf said openings for establishing communication and liquid flow between said chambers durin the period of manual openation of said va ve means, and a water inlet and a water outlet communicating constantly and respectively with the diaphragm chamber and the valve chamber.

I 5. In a liquid regulator, a casing formed to include a pair of longitudinally alin ed open ended chambers, said chambers being separatedby a divisional wall having a plurality of spaced openings provided therein, removable closures connected with the opposite ends of said casing and forming in conjunction therewith regulating and valve chambers, said chambers being in communication by means of said opening, a diaphragm situated within said regulating 'chamber and confined between the closure therefore and said casing, a valve member carried axially by said diaphragm and movable with respect to one of said openings to vary the effective area thereof, spring means confined between said closure and said diaphragm for normally maintaining said valve member in a position permitting of maximum liquid flow through an opening gov erned thereby, a second diaphra m clamped between the opposite end of said casing and the removable closure therefor and situated within said valve chamber, an axially sit uated valve member carried by said second diaphragm in an axial position, spring means acting on said second diaphragm to maintain the valve member carried thereby normally in a position closing the second of said openings, a manually operated means for flexing said second diaphragm to permit of the opening of the valve member connected therewith, and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in constant communication respectively with said regulating and valve chambers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVID H. EBINGER. 

